H.E. Neven Jurica, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations, gave a statement on Security Council Open Debate on Afghanistan.
Mr. President,
I would like to thank the Special Representative of the SG Mr. Kai Eide for his full and informative briefing, but also for his leadership of UNAMA in these difficult and challenging times. At the same time, we are pleased to welcome here the Afghan Ambassador Dr. Zahir Tanin and thank him for his statement.
Croatia is encouraged by the hard work that UNAMA has carried out so far in helping to coordinate the humanitarian efforts of the international community in support of the Afghan Government. My delegation would like to reiterate its full support for UNAMA's leading role in that regard. As was clearly stated in the report of the SG, only if absolute readiness of all stakeholders to be coordinated is present, will UNAMA be in a position to successfully execute its mandate.
Croatia is seriously concerned with the worsening of the security situation in Afghanistan. The insurgency is intensifying and is now negatively affecting areas that were previously relatively calm. Of particular concern is the situation in the border region with Pakistan where hostile activities have significantly increased. The change of tactics employed by insurgents towards attacks of an asymmetric nature often carried out in highly inhabited areas, have significantly contributed to the rise of civilian casualties.
In that context, Croatia believes that strict compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law and the implementation of adequate measures in order to ensure the protection of civilians should be applied throughout Afghanistan. We especially welcome the efforts taken so far by the international forces to minimize the risk of civilian casualties.
Croatia is concerned with the worsening humanitarian situation, brought on primarily due to the ongoing insurgency and negative impact of the conflict on humanitarian access. The current drought and high global food prices has only exacerbated the situation. We therefore welcome the second Joint Emergency Appeal for High Food Price and Drought Crisis relief launched to help people affected by the current conditions. Highly aware of the acuteness of the problem Croatia has just donated 50.000 USD through World Food Program to alleviate food shortage in the province of Badakhshan.
It is a well known fact that the insurgency in Afghanistan is fuelled predominantly by the drug trade. Having that in mind, Croatia is encouraged by the new report of UNODC according to which there is a 19 per cent decrease in opium cultivation and a 6 per cent decline in the production of opium. We welcome the renewed efforts aimed at curbing this scourge, taken with the approval of the Afghan government and consistent with the appropriate UN SC resolutions. Croatia is pleased to see that international efforts towards countering the flow of chemical precursors to illicit heroin manufacturing, recently strongly supported by the Security Council through the adoption of resolution 1817, are already bearing fruit. We commend the International Narcotics Control Board leading role and welcome greater regional cooperation on this issue.
Inextricably linked to the problem of opium cultivation is the problem of rampant corruption that plunders Afghanistan. We therefore welcome the adoption of the Law on Anti-Corruption and the establishment of the High Office of Oversight for Anti-Corruption. It is evident that these measures are necessary not only to show the seriousness of the Afghan government with regard to their commitments towards the international community, but even more, they are necessary in order to strengthen the trust and confidence of ordinary Afghans in the present administration.
Croatia is of the opinion that the upcoming elections are a key priority and real test of Afghanistan's democratic progress. While we regret that continuing disagreement within the National Assembly has prevented the adoption of the new electoral law, we are confident that all necessary legislation, including the legislation on the Independent Election Commission – the lead coordinating body for the elections – will be swiftly adopted.
On security and military matters, Croatia welcomes the continuing improvement of the Afghan National Army, and supports the Afghan request to raise the ANA recruitment ceiling from 88,000 to 134,000 by 2010. We especially welcome the Afghan government assuming greater responsibility for security in the country with the ANA taking over lead responsibility for security in Kabul. Croatia is currently examining arrangements to send to Afghanistan additional teams to be included in training and mentoring of the Afghan National Army within an Operational Mentor and Liaison Team.
Croatia commends all regional efforts aimed at the stabilization and further development of Afghanistan. Afghanistan's neighbours have an important role to play in supporting the Afghan government's efforts to secure its borders, but also in acquiring joint opportunities afforded by trade, energy market integration or infrastructural construction. We welcome the recent international agreements entered into by Afghanistan and its neighbors and express our full support to the efforts already put in place by the Special Representative aimed at underscoring the potential of regional economic development and cooperation.
We are fully aware that there is no purely military solution to the situation in Afghanistan. In order for the Afghan government and international community to succeed they need to apply a comprehensive approach, uniting military, political, humanitarian and developmental activities. Supporting a comprehensive approach also means supporting Afghan efforts to bring disaffected Afghans into society's mainstream, provided they renounce violence and accept Afghanistan's Constitution and relevant SC resolutions. We share the view that UNAMA has an important role to play in supporting Afghan-led reconciliation activities in whatever ways the Government of Afghanistan considers appropriate. Furthermore, the crisis in Afghanistan is not only national and regional, but also a global problem. The fight against the terrorism could be won only through the concerted efforts of the relevant international factors.
Croatia would like to reaffirm its strong determination, expressed at the Conference held this June in Paris, to work closely under Afghan leadership in support of the Afghan National Development Strategy based on the Afghanistan Compact of 2006. Similarly, let me reiterate our support for the assessment of the Special Representative that the priorities identified at the Paris Conference are sufficiently covered by UNAMA's mandate as laid out in Security Council resolution 1806. In that context, we welcome the changes announced by President Hamid Karzai to his cabinet, which we see as a clear sign of the Afghan determination to rigorously implement the Paris agenda. We fully concur with the assessment of the SG that greater human, administrative and security resources need to be mobilized in order for UNAMA to fulfill its mandate and achieve the established priorities. In that regard, we commend UNAMA's decision to open new provincial offices, thus further strengthening its outreach capability crucial for the implementation of its mandate. The sense of urgency is clearly present.
Finally, throughout this year, Croatia has raised the level of its military contribution to ISAF for, approximately, 30 per cent. Additionally, we have initiated development projects in the province of Badakhshan, in the sectors of health and education, following the priorities of the Afghan government. This is all to confirm our forceful commitment to the efforts of the international community to rebuild free, safe and stabile Afghanistan, as well as our strong support for the Afghan government and people.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Press releases
